“Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down” (26:20). It is interesting how much attention is given, in the Bible, to the issue of gossiping. Gossiping is a serious issue because it invariably distorts the truth, and also tends to be accompanied with a judgemental posture, both of which are abhorrent to God. Human beings are sacred, and must be treated as sacred no matter how much they have desecrated themselves. To speak disrespectfully of another person is to desecrate something that God holds sacred. Whenever you find yourself talking about another person, be very careful. If the conversation is not respectful of the other person, then change the subject. Always think about how you would have other people talk about you in a similar situation. When you talk about other people, lean towards defending them and helping others to see the good in them. Do not dwell on the negatives lest you and those you’re talking with become like a jury passing judgement. If you are sharing information about the bad behaviour of another, ask yourself, “Why do these people need to know this?” There’s rarely a good answer to this question. When we gossip, we give the victim no opportunity for defence. This is a great injustice. There are formal situations when an authorised person must assess the character and behaviour of another. There are also times when we must express how others have hurt us. This must be done confidentially and in a non-judgemental way. Apart from these situations, you should refrain from any negative talk about others.
Reflect on how you have talked about others and ask God to make you more mindful of this issue.
Read Proverbs 26:18-28
